Airship



1,641,323 Sept, 6, 1927. E DHUMY AIRSHIP Filed Nov. 1 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR N EY 1,641,323 Sept, 6, F E. DHUMY AIRSHIP Filed Nov. 18, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR FBY 74/ ATTORNEYS) Sept, 6, DHUMY AIRSHIP Filed Nov. 1.8, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 53vuWsuEEEEEF INVENTOR F/HQHC/E- d Wang/- ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES FERNAN D E. DHUMY, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

AIRSHIP.

Application filed November 18, 1925. Serial No. 69,833.-

This invention relates to airships and one of its objects is to simplify and strengthen the structure of airs-hips of the dirigible type and to reduce the cost of. their coni struction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an airship having a resilient frame structure which is adapted to yield under the stress of very strong wind pressure with out breakage or permanent distortion .of the frame parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an airship structure wherein a stress in any direction tending to distort or disrupt the structure will be resisted by yieldable tension members.

An airship constructed in accordance with this invention is preferably provided with a central longitudinally extending compres sion member which is rigid to resist compression strains but which has a limited lateral flexibility and resilience. This central compression member is surrounded by annular compression members which are so con- 2 structed that they have a limited lateral resilience and flexibility and are rigid to resist strains tending to contract them and force 'them inwardly toward the central compret-sion members. These two compression members are connected together by transverse tension members, said tension members holding the annular compression members and the longitudinally extending compression member properly spaced apart 3 and positioned in the ship structure. A l of the tension members are yieldable under a strain justbelow their breaking strength and exerted in a direction tending to elongate said tension members. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through my improved airship;

Fig. 2 a transverse section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a sideview of a portion of the frame structure of the airship;

Fig. 4 a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional view of one of the jointsin the central shaft of the airship and the adjacent frame parts:

Fig. 6 a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 a detail plan view of a portion of the frame structure shown in Fig. 5;

- the disc 12 Fig. 8 a detail plan view of' one of the joints in the frame structure;

of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 a section taken on the line 10-.-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 a detail view of one of the gas bags removed from the frame;

Fig. 12 a longitudinal section showing a portion of an airship of modified structure;

Fig. 13 a transverse section taken substan-. tially on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 a view similar to Fig. 13 showing the central portion of the frame structure, with the radial wires omitted;

Fig. 15 a side view showing the outer envelope of the ship;

Fig. 16 a fragmentary sectional View of the envelope; and

Fig. 17 a similar view of a modified form of envelope.

The airship structure includes a longitudinal central beam or shaft S which extends throughout the length of the ship and constitutes a longitudinally extending compression member of a truss which extends throughout the length of the ship. The shaft S is formed of a plurality of straight tubular sections arranged end to end and in axial alignment in a longitudinal series. These shaft sections are numbered 1 to 8 inelusive. The opposed ends of the different sections are closed and are formed with outwardly extending flanges 9. One of Said ends is formed with a concave surface 10 and the opposed end of the next adjacent section is formed with a convex surface 11- adapted to enter said concavity. Tnterposed between the surfaces 10 and 11 is a felt disc or cushioning gasket 12. The opposed ends of the sections are joined together by a series of bolts 13 which pass through the flanges 9 of the opposed ends. The bolts 13 serve also to secure a circular ring or hub collar 14 to the face of one of the end flanges 9. This collar serves as an anchorage for cer-' tain of the frame arts to be described later. The bolts project eyond the flange 9 of the.

Fig. 9 a section taken on the line- 99 I opposed sectionand have nuts 15 thread tacit}.

upon them. Interposed between said flange and the nuts 15 are strong coiled compression springs 16 which encircle the bolts 13. The opposed end faces 10 and 11 are held pressed firmly toward each other and against by these springs 16. The bolt bolts therein.

holes in one of the flanges 9 are enlarged as at 17 to permit of lateral movement of the Thus a slightly flexible and resilient joint structure is provided between the sections. This joint structure is duplicated between each pair of opposed sections throughout the length of the shaft. The tubular shaft sections are made of thin metal and are completely filled with a light weight filler such as a specially prepared wood pulp compounded to resist compression. This filler adds compression strength to the shaft and will resist a strain tending to buckle the shaft or the sections thereof.

Encircling the central shaft S are a plu-' and their diameters are varied to give the proper taper to the ship. Eacb'hoop is formed of a series of curved tubular sections 19 of equal length disposed end to end. These tubular sections are formed of thin metal and are completely filled with wood pulp or other suitable material to strengthen them. The sections 19 are formed at their opposed or meeting ends with wide compression shoes 20 which extend out at opposite sides of the hoop. The shoe at one end of each section is formed with a convex surface 21 which is opposed to a concave surface 22 formed in the opposed shoe of the next adjacentfsection. Interposed between the surfaces 21 and 22 is a, cushioning gasket 23 formed of a strip of-felt. Each pair of opposed shoes are joined together by apair of bolts 24 which extend through the outen ends of the shoes and have nuts 25 threaded upon them. A strong coiled compression spring 26 encircles each bolt 24 between the nut 25 and one of the shoes 20. The springs 26 are adapted to hold the opposed shoes firmly pressed against the compression gasket 23. The opposed surfaces 21 and 22 are curved transversely of the shoes 20 and the bolt apertures in one of the shoes are enlarged as at 27. Thus a slightly flexible and resilient joint structure is provided between each hoop section and the hoops are rendered resilient transversely of the ship structure. Each hoop section has a limited independent resilient connection to permit a limited independent movement toward the center under an unusual and unbalanced pressure. These hoops are compression members and resist strains tending to force them inwardly toward the shaft. \Vhen the hoops are assembled and properly tensioned they form compression members which resist all stresses tending to contract them:

A series of wire tension strands 28fextend from each hub collar 14 radially outward toward the hoop H which encircles said collar. The strands are equally spaced in a series extending around the collar and their inner ends are looped and directly connected" as at 29 with apertured ears formed upon the outer edge of the hub collar. The outer ends of the strands 28 are connected to coiled tension springs 30 which are in turn connected with the inner side of the hoop at equally spaced points around its circumference. The springs 30 are anchored to the hoop by means of sectional clips 31 which embrace the hoop and'arc clamped thereto by bolts 32.

A pair of opposed anchor rings 33 encircle each hub collar 14 and are disposed con centric with it. The radial strands 28 of each series are arranged in the same plane and the opposed rings 33 are disposed atopposite sides of the series of strands. The rings 33 are held in place upon the strands 28 by a series of bolts 34 which clamp the rings to opposite sides of the strands. The strands pass between a pair of felt cushioning gaskets 35 interposed between the opposed faces of the rings 33 and the strands. Leading from each ring 33 to the hub collar 14, located at the next adjacent shaft joint,

is a s"ries of diagonal. tension strands 36 formed of wire. These strands lead from pointsequally spaced around the rings 33 rectly connected as at 36 to cars formed upon' the outer edges of the hub collars. At their outer ends the strands 36 are connected to strong coiled tension springs 37 which are in turn connected as at 38 to apertured ears formed upon the inner edges of the rings 33. The rings 33 surrounding the joint between the front shaft sections 7 and 8 are connected with the front end of the shaft by the strands 36 and springs 37.

Each ring or hoop H is connected to the nextadjacent hoop by longitudinal tension strands 39 formedof wire. The wire strands 39 connect the different hoops at points equally spaced around them. Each strand is looped and directly connected at one end, as at 40. to an outwardly extending ear formed upon one of the U-shaped clips 31. Atits opposite end the strand is connected to a strong coiled tension spring 41. The spring 41 1s in turn connected to the clip 31 upon the next adjacent hoop. Strands 39 also lead from the outermost hoops to the front and rear ends respectively of the central shaft S. These end strands converge inwardly and are connected to the springs 41 which are in turn connected to the shaft ends in any suitable manner.

Surrounding the shaft S and spaced therealong throughout its length are a plurality of gas bags 42. These bags are curved to describe the greater portion of a circle. a gap 43 being left between the closed ends of the bags. Fig. 11 shows one of the bags separated from the frame structure of the ship.

- The bag located -'at the front end of the ship is formed to fill the tapering space de-' fined by the radial strands 28 and the converging strands 36 and 39. The bag at the stem is formed to fill the space defined by the strands 39 and 36 and the shaft S. The

, intermediate bags fill the spaces between the hoops defined by the longitudinal outer strands 39, the diagonal inner strands 36 and the radial hoop strands 28. The gaps 43 of the bags are arranged in longitudinal alinement to provide a corridor space extending throughout the length of the ship below the shaft.

Th'e frame structure described is adapted to maintain the shape of the airship under normal conditions but is adapted to yield resiliently .under the impact of a powerful wind force upon the outer envelope and thus prevent the permanent distortion or rupture of the frame. When the undue pressure is relieved, the various frame parts resume their normal shapes and positions. Theradial strands 28 and their connected springs, extending between the hub collars 14 and the hoo sections, exert an inward tension which ten s to contract the hoop'and thereby hold its sections yieldingly together under endwise compression. Under the stress of a strong lateral impact the hoop sections are adapted to flextresiliently at the joints and to be slightly distorted to cushion the blow. The longitudinal tension strands 39 connect the series of hoops together throughout the length of the shipand the springs connected to the hoops permit them to yield resiliently to an endwise force tending to displace them. The radial tension strands 28 yieldingly support the central shaft S properly centered within the hoops, and the diagonal strands 36, and their connected springs yieldingly hold the shaft sections in alinement. These diagonal strands 36 and their springs exert a pull both longitudinally and laterally outward at the shaft joints and are arranged to hold the shaft sections together end to end in series, under compression throughout the length of the shaft and are adapted also to resist buckling of the shaft. Under a strong wind forcelending to break the ship in two, the springs in .the strands-36 and the flexible shaft joints per mit the shaft. to bend resiliently and cushion the blow. The ship structure is therefore adapted to cushion a blow received from any h at all times.

direction and to right itself when the pressure is relieved.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14 a slight modification of the frame structure is shown. 1n this form the shaft S, the hoops H and the arrangement of the radial strands 28 and the longitudinal strands 39 remain the same as the form just described, but the diagonal strands 36 are differently arranged from strands 36. The strands 36, instead of leading from the hub collars to the anchor rings 33 as dothe strands 36. in this case lead from one pair of rings 33, across the shaft to the next adjacent pair of rings. These strands are arranged in pairs, spaced angularly around the rings 33, and the strands of each pair extend in parallel directions across opposite sides of the shaft S. This arrangement permits the gas bags to fit more closely to the central shaft and therefore accommodate large bags which give greater buoyancy to the ship. Fig. 14 shows in detail the arrangement of the pairs of diagonal wires.

In both forms of the'invention the various tension strands are shown as single wires in order to simplify the illustration. These single strands may be replaced by groups of strands of a number sufficient to give the necessary strength. Cable strands may also be used in place of wire. The tension springs in the various strands are made very strong so that under normal condition they will. remain nearly contracted. For the purpose of adjusting the tension of the various tension strands turnbuckles may be introduced between the tension springs and the strands or at any other convenient place, as indicated at 44 in Fig. 5. The resistance of said springs is, however, well under the maximum tensile strength of the strands so that they will yield under an unusual stress, and prevent the strands from breaking. The control means for the airship is not shown. A suspended car C is, however, indicated in Fig. 1 in order to show that it may be supported by the hoops H. While I have shown the airship as round in cross section it will be understood that it may be given other desired cross sectional forms by using differently shaped hoop members.

The outer envelope 18 of the airship is so formed as to permit it to stretch without tearing when the frame structure is distorted and to adapt it to snugly engage the frame To this end the envelope is folded back upon itself at points spaced along its length as indicated at 45 in Figs. and 16. These folds overlap longitudinally of the envelope and extendentirely around itto render the envelope extensible. The extension of the envelope is yieldahly resisted by a series of coiled tension springs 46 and 47, arranged respectively within and without the envelope at opposite sides of the folds 45. These springs are arranged in spaced positions around the envelope and connect at one end to anchor strips 48 stitched along the creases of the folds 45, and at their opposite ends to anchor strips 49 stitched to the envelope and extending therearound at points spaced from opposite sides of the folds. The springs 46 and 47 yieldably resist an extension of the envelope at the folds when the resilient frame structure becomes distorted, and when the distorting stress is relieved and the frame rights itself the springs will contract the envelope into snug engagement with the frame.

In Fig. l? is strewn a portion of a moditied form ofenvelope. This envelope is formed of sections which overlap at the edges as indicated at 5-0 and extend around the envelope. The extension of the envelope is resisted b tension springs in the same manner as in tie form previously described. The tension springs connect directly to the overlapped edges of the envelope sections.

What I claim is:'

1. An airship structure comprising a longitudinally extending compression member; a plurality of annular compressionmembers encircling said longitudinal compression member and spaced along it; transverse tension members yieldably supporting the longitudinal compression member within the said annular members; and longitudinally extending tension members connecting the annular members to each other and to the ends of the longitudinally extendin compression member, the said longitu inally extending tension members being connected to the annular members at points spaced therearound and being longitudinally resilient.

2. An airship structure comprising a longitudinally extending compression member; a plurality of annular compression'members encircling said longitudinal compression member and spaced therealong; a'plurality of transverse tension members connecting each annular member at points spaced therearound to the longitudinally extending com pression member and adapted to support the said member Within the annular members, said transverse tension members tending to contract the annular members; inner longitudinal tension members connected to 'the longitudinal compression member at points spaced around it and adapted to exert a stress upon the said COmI'HPSSlOD member tending to compress it longitudinally; and outer longitudinal tension members connecting the annular members to each other and to the ends of the longitudinal -compres'sion member, said outer tension members being connected to the annular members at points spaced around them.

3. An airship structure comprising a lonpression member tending to compress it longitudinally; and outer longitudinal tension members connecting the annular members to each other and to the ends of the longitudinal compression member, said outer tension members being connected to the annular members at points spaced around them."

4. An airship frame comprising a longitudinal compression member formed of a plurality of sections arranged end to end and rigid to resist longitudinal compression strains; means flexibly connecting said sections together to permit a slight yielding under lateral or side-wise strains; a structure surrounding said longitudinal compression member and adapted to hold the outer envelope of the airship distended; and longitudinally resilient tension members arranged around the longitudinal compression member and connecting each section thereof to said surrounding structure, said tension members being adapted to exert a tension upon the longitudinal compression member both longitudinally and outwardly at all sides tending to hold the said compression member sections together and to resist bending of the longitudinal compression member.

5. An airship structure comprising a central longitudinally extending compression member surrounded by and maintained in axial alignmentby longitudinally extending tension members connected thereto; a series of annular compression members surrounding the longitudinally extending compression member; a series of transverse tension members connected to the central compression member and to each of the annialar compression members: and longitudinally extending tension members connecting together the annular com ression members and the two ends of the ongitudinally extending compression member.

6. An airship structure comprising a longitudinal central shaft formed of sections arranged end to end; means forming flexible joint connections between the shaft sections; a plurality of hoop members spaced along said shaft and encircling said joint connections, said hoop members being each formed of a plurality of sections arranged end to end; means forming flexible joint connections between said hoop sections; a series of longitudinally resilient tension members arranged radially around each joint connection and connecting it to .the .encircling hoop; longitudinally resilient tension members arranged around the shaft and extending diagonally outwardly therefrom and connecting each shaft joint with the said radial strands leading from the next adjacent joints at either side; and longitudinally resilient tension strands arranged longitudinally and connecting the different hoop members to each other and to the shaft ends, said longitudinal strands bein connected to the hoop members at points spaced around them.

7. An airship structure comprising a longitudinal shaft formed of sections arranged end to end; means forming flexible joint connections between the shaft sections; a plurality of resiliently flexible hoop mem: bers spaced along said shaft and encirling said joint connections; means forming flexible joint connections between said hoop sections; a series of longitudinally resilient tension members arranged around the shaft and connecting it to the encircling hoop member at points spaced around sai member; and longitudinally resilient tension members arranged longitudinally and connecting the different hoop members to each other and to the shaft ends, said longitudinal members being connected to the hoop members at oints spaced around them.

8. An airs iip structure comprising a laterally resilient flexible longitudinal shaft; a plurality oflaterally resilient flex ble hoop members encircling the shaft and spaced therealong; resilient tension members extending between each hoop and the shaft and supporting the shaft within the hoops; and means resiliently holding the peripheries of the hoop members in spaced positions longitudinally of the shaft.

9. An airship structure comprising a laterally resilient flexible longitudinal shaft; a plurality of laterally resilient flexible hoop members encircling the shaft and spaced therealong; resilient tension members extending between each hoop member and the shaft and supporting the shaft within the .hoop members; and resilient tension members arranged longitudinally of the airship structure and connecting the peripheries of the hoop members to each other, at points spaced therearound, and to the ends of the shaft.

10. An airshi structure comprising a longitudinal shaft'form'ed of a plurality of sections arranged end to end; means forming flexible joint connections between the shaft,

.means extending between each hoop member and the shaft to support the shaft within the hoop members; and longitudinally resilient tension means connected to the shaft and tothe said shaft-supporting means of each hoop member and adapted to yieldably hold the shaft sections compressed together.

11. An airship structure comprising a longitudinal shaft formed of sections arranged end to end; means forming flexible joint connections between the shaft sections; a plurality of hoop members spaced along said shaft and encircling it; means extendmg between each hoop and. the shaft to support the shaft within the hoop; and longitudinally resilient tension means connected to the shaft and to the said shaft-supporting means of each hoop and adapted to exert a tension upon the shaft sections longitudinally and outwardly, whereby the shaft sections are held yieldingly pressed together and the shaft is yieldingly held against buckling.

.12. An airship structure comprising a longitudinal shaft; a plurality of hoop members spaced along said shaft and encircling it, said hoop members being each formed of a plurality of sections arranged end toend and flexibly connected together; and longitudinally resilient tension members connected to the hoop sections and to the shaft and adapted to exert an inward tension upon the said sections and hold them yieldably pressed together.

13. An airship structure comprising a longitudinal central shaft formed of sections arranged end to end; means forming flexible joint connections between the shaft sections; a plurality of hoop members spaced along said shaft and encircling said joint connections, said hoop members being each formed of a plurality of sections arranged end to end; means forming flexible joint connections between said hoop sections: a series of longitudinally resilient tension strands arranged radially around each joint connection and connecting it to the encir-- inc members to each other and to the shaft ends,

said longitudinal strands being connected to the hoop members at points saaced around them; and a plurality of gas ags each arranged inwardly of the said longitudinallocated below the shaft and spaced apart, whereby a longitudinal corridor space will be formed below, the shaft.

14. An airship structure comprising a longitudinal shaft; a plurality of hoop members encircling the shaft and spaced therealon means extending between each hoop mem er and the shaft to support the shaft within the hoop members; means holding the peripheries of the hoops in spaced positions longitudinally of the shaft; and a plurality of gas bags each located between each pair of hoop members and formed to extend around the shaft, the ends of each bag being located below the shaft and spaced apart to form a gap, and the gaps of all the bags being in, longitudinal alinement, whereby a longitudinal corridor space will be formed below the shaft.

15. An airship structurecomprising a resiliently flexible longitudinal shaft, a plurality of resiliently flexible hoop members encircling the shaft and spaced therealong; lon itudinally resilient tension members exten ing between each hoop and the shaft and supporting the shaft within the hoops; longitudinally extending and longitudinally resilient tension members connecting the hoo s to each other and to the shaft to yiel ingly hold the hoops in spaced position longitudinally of the shaft; and a plurality of gas bags each located between each pair of hoops inwardly of said longitudinal tension members and formedto extend around the shaft, the ends of each bag being spaced apart below the shaft to form a gap and the gaps of the difierent bags being in longitudinal alinement to form a longitudinal corridor space below the shaft.

16. An airshi structure comprising a longitudinal sha t a lurality of hoop members encircling said s aft and spaced along it; means yieldably supporting the shaft within the hoop members; and longitudinally extending tension members connecting the hoop members to each other and to the ends of the shaft, the said tension members being connected to. the hoop members at point spaoed therearound and being longitudinally resilient.

17. An airship structure comprising a longitudinal shaft; a plurality of hoo members encircling said shaft and space therealong; a plurality of transverse tension members connecting each hoop member at oints spaced therearound to the shaft and a apted to support the shaft within the hoop members, said transverse tension members tending to contract the hoop members; inner longitudinal tension members connected to the shaft at points spaced around it and adapted to exert a stress upon the shaft tending to compress it longt-udinally; and outer longitudinal tension members connecting the hoop members to each other and to the ends menses Wardly thereof at all sides tending to resist buckling of the shaft.

19. An airship frame comprising a longitudinal shaft formed of a plurality of sections arranged end to end and flexibly connected together; a structure surrounding said shaft and adapted to hold the outer envelope of the airship distended; and longitudinally resilient tension members arranged around the shaft and connecting eachshaft section to said surrounding structure, said tension members being adapted to exert a tension upon the shaft both longitudinally and outwardly thereof at all sides tending to hold the shaft sections together and to resist bending of the shaft.

20. In an airship, the combination of a yieldable resilient frame structure; an outer envelope covering said frame structure and formed with overlapping portions adapted to render the envelope extensible; and resilient tension means adapted to yieldably resist the extension of the envelope.

21. In an airship, the combination of a yieldable resilient frame structure; an outer' envelope covering said frame structure and formed with overlapping portions extending transversely around the frame structure at longitudinally spaced points and adapted to render the envelope extensible; and resilient tension means adapted to yieldably resist the extension of the envelope.

22. In an airship, the combination of a yieldable resilient frame structure; an outer envelope covering said frame structure and formed with longitudinally overlapping folds extending transversely around the envelope at points spaced along its length, the

said folds being adapted to render the envelope longitudinally extensible; and tension springs connected to each of said folds at points spaced around the envelope and adapted to yieldably resist the extens'pn of the envelope.

23. An elongated airship frame comprising a plurality of outer members extending transversely around the longitudinal axis of the airship and formed and arranged to ive shape to it; and resilient means adapte to yieldably hold said members against movement relatively to each other and relatively to said axis, said resilient means being adapted to permit the outer members to be igo displaced both transversely and 1ongitudinally with relation to the axis to cushion an impact received from any direction, and being adapted to restore said members to their normal positions when they are relieved of pressure.

24. In an airship, the combination of an elongated internal frame structure formed and arranged to give the ship shape and strength; means to render said structure transversely resilient whereby it. will yield transversely under wind impact; and an extensible envelope enclosing said frame struc-' ture, said envelope being extensible to ermit it to accommodate itself to the flexmg' of the enclosed frame structure without rup ture.

25. In an airship, the combination of an elon 'ated internal frame structure extending from end to end of the ship and formed and arranged to give the ship shape and strength; means to render said structure transversely resilient whereby it will yield transversely under wind impact; and an envelope enclosing said frame structure.

26. In an airship, the combination of an elongated internal frame structure formed and arranged to give the ship shape and strength and comprising a central longitudinally extending member rigid to resist compression strains and provided with means to render it transversely resilient; and surrounding frame members formed and arranged to give shape and strength to the ship and provided with means to render the ship frame structure longitudinally resilient at the'periphery of the ship.

27. In an airship, the combination of an elongated internal frame structure formed and arranged to give the ship shape and strength and comprising a central longitudinally extending member; and surrounding frame members connected to the central member and formed and arranged to give shape and strength to the ship and provided with means to render the ship frame structure longitudinally resilient at the periphery of the ship and transversely resilient to yield under wind impact.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FERN AND E. DHUMY. 

